Chapter 48 Ajiu's Nose is Blessed
In the dark and damp dungeon, the "Owl Lord" was chained to the wall. He looked haggard, but his eyes were still as fierce as a wolf.
"Lord," Imperial Preceptor Xuan Yi said calmly, standing outside the prison gate, "We already know almost everything about the 'Jingzhe Plan' you painstakingly planned. Using the 'Tears of the Stars,' sacrificing the Crown Prince, and bringing the 'Aura of the Netherworld' into the world... It's truly a grand undertaking."
Upon hearing this, the "Owl Lord" just sneered and did not answer.
Imperial Master Xuan Yi continued, "However, you may not know that your plan has already been 'dreamed' by a little girl."
He paused, observing the Owl Lord's reaction, then slowly said, "She said that on the day of the 'Grand Prayer Ceremony', black raindrops with a foul odor will fall from the altar, and will severely pound the child in the glittering golden clothes..."
The "Owl Lord" originally had a disdainful expression on his face, but when he heard the words "black raindrops" and "stench", a subtle fluctuation clearly flashed in his eyes. Although it was extremely fast, it was still caught by the National Master Xuan Yi.
"It seems you already knew what would happen if the 'Netherworld Energy' got out of control." Imperial Preceptor Xuan Yi's voice was tinged with sarcasm. "Do you think you can control that kind of power? Don't be naive. Once that rift is opened, your 'Night Owl Alliance', along with the entire capital, could become its sacrifice."
The Owl Lord suddenly raised his head, a fierce gleam in his eyes, and hissed, "Nonsense! Divine punishment has come to cleanse the filth; it is destiny! How can you, mere mortals, understand the might of the gods!"
Although he remained tough on the outside, Imperial Master Xuan Yi could see a hint of hesitation in his slightly rapid breathing and flickering eyes. It seemed that Ah Jiu's "prophecy" had indeed touched upon some of his inner fears.
And our girl Ajiu has been in a state of excitement and anxiety since she "predicted" the "black raindrops".
She felt as if she had done something remarkable, having successfully warned of a disaster, but at the same time, she was worried that the "little brother in the glittering gold suit" would actually get into trouble.
So, she began to pester the Imperial Master Xuan Yi, asking about the progress of the matter.
"My Lord, is that little brother safe now? Have you caught those bad guys who were going to release the black stinking raindrops?"
"Sir, let me tell you another fortune! This time I'm sure I can figure out where those villains are hiding! Or what that 'Tear of the Stars' looks like!"
As she said this, she was about to take out her precious copper coins and tortoise shells.
Imperial Preceptor Xuan Yi held her hand, feeling both amused and helpless. "Ah Jiu, be good. I and your fierce brother will handle these matters. Your most important task now is to study diligently with Master Zhou, and then... take care of yourself and don't run around."
He didn't dare let this girl "fortune-tell" again. God knew what earth-shattering things her unique brain circuit could "calculate" next.
There are only three days left until the "Grand Prayer Ceremony".
In order to deal with the possible "ghostly energy", the National Master Xuan Yi even dug out some talismans and magical instruments from the National Master's Mansion. Most of these things were used by the National Masters of all generations to suppress evil spirits and purify filth. Although he himself had not used them much, he had no choice but to try it out.
Xiao Yu also ordered the Military Equipment Bureau to rush to produce a batch of special protective masks and cloaks overnight. Although he didn't know whether they would be useful against the "Netherworld Aura", it was better than going out with bare hands.
On the day of the "Grand Prayer Ceremony", before dawn, the entire capital was shrouded in a strange thick fog.
The fog had arrived strangely, much thicker than usual morning mist, making it impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face. A faint, nauseating sweetness lingered in the air, adding a touch of oppression and unease to the otherwise solemn atmosphere.
Inside the Imperial Master's Mansion, Ah Jiu was awakened early in the morning by the strange smell. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, sniffed hard, and her face immediately fell.
"My lord! My lord!" She didn't even have time to put on her shoes before running barefoot to the courtyard of Imperial Master Xuan Yi. "That stinky smell is back! It's even stronger than last night! It seems... it seems to be coming from the Imperial Palace!"
Imperial Preceptor Xuan Yi had already risen. He had barely slept a wink the previous night, constantly calculating the various possible mishaps that might arise during the "Grand Prayer Ceremony." Hearing Ah Jiu's cry, he felt a chill in his heart.
This girl's sensitivity to scent was sometimes even more acute than that of a hound. The "stinky smell" she mentioned was most likely a precursor to the "ghostly aura," or perhaps the scent of the "Tears of the Stars" driven by some force!
"Ajiu, smell it carefully. Does this smell resemble the smell of 'black raindrops' you smelled in your dream?" asked the Imperial Master Xuan Yi with a serious expression.
Ah Jiu sniffed hard, frowning tightly, and then nodded vigorously: "Yes! But it's stronger! It makes me dizzy and want to vomit..."
Imperial Preceptor Xuan Yi's heart sank. It seemed the Night Owl Alliance's plan had already begun. The Tears of the Stars had probably already been activated and was gathering strength!
Xiao Yu stayed up all night, personally guarding the Eastern Palace to ensure the safety of the Crown Prince. The Imperial Guards and Secret Guards sealed the Eastern Palace tightly, preventing even a fly from getting in.
As expected, the suspicious-looking head nurse made a move before dawn. Under the pretext of helping the Crown Prince arrange incense and ornaments for a ritual, she attempted to approach his chambers. However, as soon as she approached, she was politely "invited" to the side by the female guards Xiao Yu had arranged in advance and placed under close guard.
From the sachet carried by the nanny, a wooden plaque soaked in special medicinal herbs and emitting a faint, unusual fragrance was found. The aroma of this plaque vaguely resembled the "stink" Ah Jiu had described, but it was more subtle. Clearly, this was a prop used by the Night Owl Alliance to mark the crown prince, or to serve as a "primer" in rituals.
"It seems there's more than one traitor in the palace." Xiao Yu looked at the wooden sign with a cold gaze. This head nanny was just a tool for communication. The one who could truly strike at a critical moment must be someone closer to the core of power, or someone more inconspicuous and easily overlooked.
The Altar of Heaven, a towering white marble structure located south of the Imperial City, was shrouded in thick fog, making it appear even more mysterious.
Before the ceremony began, Imperial Master Xuan Yi and Xiao Yu conducted a final inspection of the altar and its surroundings.
"Ajiu said that the 'black hole' seemed to be leaking from the sky..." Imperial Preceptor Xuan Yi looked up at the misty sky, then lowered his head to examine the structure of the Heavenly Altar. "If the 'Tears of the Stars' is the key to triggering the 'Netherworld Rift', then it is most likely hidden somewhere that can maximize the concentration of star power, or resonate with the core of the Heavenly Altar's formation."
As he spoke, he took out a special compass from his pocket. The needle of this compass did not point to north or south, but was trembling slightly.
"This compass can sense unusually negative energy or powerful energy sources," Imperial Master Xuan Yi explained. "If the 'Tears of the Stars' has been activated, it will inevitably emit strong energy fluctuations."
The two men, accompanied by a few trusted aides, searched the altar carefully. As the compass needle neared the altar's top, near the massive jade disk used to hold the sacrificial offerings, it began to vibrate more and more violently, finally spinning almost madly!
"It's here!" Imperial Master Xuan Yi and Xiao Yu looked at each other and were both shocked.
There seems to be another mystery under that jade disc!
However, before they could investigate further, the sound of ritual music could be heard in the distance, announcing the official start of the "Grand Prayer Ceremony for a Good Harvest." The emperor's carriage had already set off, and civil and military officials began to gather at the altar according to their rank.
It’s too late now!
At this tense moment, an inopportune voice suddenly rang out.
"Master Imperial Master! Your Highness the Regent! I observed the celestial phenomena at night and saw a demonic fog engulfing the city. This is a sign of great misfortune! I swear to protect the Crown Prince to the death and fight this evil monster to the death!"
Censor Qian appeared from nowhere, with a tragic look on his face, waving a peach wood sword he had gotten from somewhere in his hand. Behind him followed several censors who were equally indignant, and it seemed that they were planning to forcibly "protect the emperor."
"Nonsense!" Xiao Yu shouted sternly, "Come here, invite Censor Qian and the others to the viewing area and keep them under strict supervision. Don't let them disturb the emperor!"
Several fierce imperial guards immediately stepped forward and dragged away Censor Qian and others who were still shouting.
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